Rolvenden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Rolvenden | |
|---|---|
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| Statistics | |
| Population: | 1495 [1] |
| Ordnance Survey | |
| OS grid reference: | TQ843315 |
| Administration | |
| Parish: | Rolvenden |
| Borough: | Ashford |
| Shire county: | Kent |
| Region: | South East England |
| Constituent country: | England |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial county: | Kent |
| Historic county: | Kent |
| Services | |
| Police force: | Kent Police |
| Fire and rescue: | {{{Fire}}} |
| Ambulance: | South East Coast |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | TONBRIDGE |
| Postal district: | TN17 |
| Dialling code: | 01580 |
| Politics | |
| UK Parliament: | Ashford |
| European Parliament: | South East England |
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Rolvenden is a village and civil parish in the Ashford District of Kent, England. The village is located on the A28 Ashford to Hastings road, five miles (8km) south-west of Tenterden.
The settlement of Rolvenden Layne, south of Rolvenden, is also in the parish.
[edit] History
The village of Rolvenden dates from at least Saxon times. The name 'Rolvenden' originates from a chieftan Hropwulf, and refers to the 'den or pasture of Hropwulf's people'. Den is the jutish word for swinepastures with associated hamlets, isolated farmsteads and cultivated land.
Rolvenden was first mentioned in the Domesday book as Rovindene. In the reign of Edward III this was changed to Riolvinden, and then changed again to Rounden in the late 17th century.
Rolvenden village originally consisted of the Streyte, located along what is now the A28 Ashford to Hastings road, which was almost entirely burned down during the Great Plague (except for the church, pub and some farms). This caused the villagers to abandon the Streyte and move a mile down the hill to the common land of the Layne during the 1660s. They later returned to rebuild the Streyte, resulting in the two small hamlets, the Streyte and the younger, smaller and quieter Layne that you see today.
The population declined between 1830 and 1850, when many people left during and after the Swing Riots. This was caused by Rolvenden parish making the conscious decision to provide the poor with a single payment for assisted passages to the colonies, as opposed to large ongoing payments for parish relief.
Rolvenden is now approximately ten square miles in area, consisting largely of farming and rural activities, with an increasing number of professional, craft and tourist services. Rolvenden is within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the South Kent development area.
[edit] Places of Interest
The 13th/14th century parish church is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. The font has the arms of the Culpeper family on it. The war memorial in the churchyard was designed by Edwin Lutyens.
Great Maytham Hall, located down the hill towards Rolvenden Layne, contains "The Secret Garden" that inspired the well known children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The Hall was also designed by Lutyens.
Hole Park on the Benenden Road regularly opens its gardens to the public under the National Gardens Scheme.
Rolvenden Windmill is a familiar landmark that can can also be seen on the Benenden Road. It does not open to the public.
The C.M. Booth Collection of Historic Vehicles is located in the middle of Rolvenden High Street at Fallstaff Antiques, and is well worth a visit for the whole family. They specialize in Morgan 3 wheelers, and also have a fascinating variety of other vintage cars, motorcycles, bicycles, displays of toy and model cars etc.
Rolvenden also has a thriving Farmers' Market which takes place every Thursday morning between 10am-12 noon in the church and the new village hall opposite. It aims to help local farmers sell their produce to local people, keeping down "food miles" and giving customers direct contact with the farmer/producer.
The Kent and East Sussex Railway has its workshops near Rolvenden station, which is some distance from the village itself.
[edit] External links
- Rolvenden Parish church
- Great Maytham Hall
- Hole Park Garden
- Rolvenden Windmill
- C.M.Booth Motor Museum
- Rolvenden Farmers' Market
